We enter the home stretch of the WPIAL football season this weekend, as the playoff races and conference title races will really begin to heat up.
But, before we look ahead to an exciting Week 7, let’s recognize the top performers in Week 6.
It was a week in which we saw a huge matchup between arguably the WPIAL’s two best teams, and a rivalry game between Eastern suburban schools.
Five players make this week’s Watch List, including a repeat nominee for just the second time this season.
At the end of the high school football season, we will honor seven local players who stood out the most during 2021.
The awards will go to the top player in each WPIAL classification, as well as the best performer in the Pittsburgh City League.
Leading up to that, each week, we will highlight players who are in the running for the prestigious postseason award.
Previous Watch Lists: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5
Alex Tecza, Mt. Lebanon
Making the Super 7 Watch List is an impressive accomplishment. Making it twice? That’s rare company? But to make it on the list in consecutive weeks? Well, you better have done something pretty incredible.
And that’s precisely what All Tecza is, and did.
Tecza upped his game in what’s becoming an extremely impressive 2021 season, as the senior tailback from Mt. Lebanon ran for 266 yards on 30 carries, scored twice, and caught three passes as the Blue Devils pounded Central Catholic 35-14.
Tecza has now run for nearly 1,000 yards already, as Mt. Lebanon is 7-0, atop Class 6A.
He has numerous offers, including Navy, Army, Delaware, Colgate, Dartmouth, Holy Cross, Fordham, Duquesnee, Robert Morris, Davidson, Columbia and Penn.
Caleb Williams, Montour
A solid two-way player, Williams put up his best performance of the year Friday in a tight win over Parkway Conference foe Blackhawk.
The senior ran for 263 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns, as the Spartans topped the Cougars, 28-27, to pick up their first conference win of the season.
So far this year, Williams has run for 603 yards and seven touchdowns. He has caught six passes and is third on the team with 48 tackles.
Williams has yet to pick up a college offer, but has started to receive some interest.
Cade Yacamelli, Penn-Trafford
Yacamelli is one of the most complete players in the WPIAL, and led his team to its biggest win of the season Friday.
Yacamelli ran for 131 yards on 20 carries and score a touchdown as the Warriors beat rival Gateway in a game you heard on NewsRadio KDKA.
The senior, who is committed to Wisconsin, has rushed for 830 yards, caught eight passes for 122 yards, and scored ten touchdowns as Penn-Trafford has gone 5-2 this season.
He is also a strong defensive player, as that will likely be where he plays with the Badgers.
The 6-foot, 195-pound athlete also has offers from 12 other schools.
Troy Volpatti, Bethel Park
In what was one of the surprising results of the week, Volpatti led Bethel Park to a runaway win over one of Class 5A’s best teams, South Fayette.
Volpatti, a senior, has rushed for 181 yards and scored three times in the 27-7 win.
In 2021, Volpatti has accumulated 7-6 rushing yards, 204 receiving yards and scored 13 touchdowns — 7th most in the WPIAL.
Troy’s brother, Tanner, is a junior linebacker at Washington and Jefferson.
Joe Leske, Thomas Jefferson
Turns out, Thomas Jefferson is going to be alright after a rare regular season loss.
Two weeks ago, the Jaguars lost a heartbreaker to rival Belle Vernon, and then had a bye week last Friday.
But Leske and Thomas Jefferson took out their extended frustrations this week, beating up Laurel Highlands, 42-3, despite an injury to running back Connor Murga.
Leske made up for Murga’s absence, passing for 208 yards and two touchdowns, and rushing for another 102 yards and three more scores in the bounce-back win.
KDKA Radio’s coverage of WPIAL football continues this week with the Quest for the Best Show at 6 p.m. on Thursday night. On Friday, Dan Zangrilli, Johnny Lee, Robert Mangino, Dorin Dickerson and Cale Berger bring you live coverage of Pine-Richland at North Hills. You can hear the show, and the game, on 100.1 FM and 1020 AM News Radio KDKA.